Cindy Knoke

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Hummer’s Mean Home: Part I (Perching)~

I don’t worry about them when I’m gone.
I just miss them.
My husband, the actual-factual, logical-biostatistician, said incredulously, “They fly up to me like they missed me.”

He’s not used to thinking like this,

but he can’t help noticing such obvious birdy behavior.
Speaking of birdy behavior, we are having a problem this year.

The snoozing little capitalist you see above is dominating two quart-sized feeders and relentlessly attacking and driving all hummers off who try to feed. He spends more time hoarding nectar than feeding and snoozes all the time because he’s exhausted from all his effort. Of course he can’t even begin to drink this much nectar!

You can see him perched on the wire above the feeder, waiting to attack any bird that dares to drink! We have three feeders now spaced far apart to control him, one in a bush that is impossible for him to monitor, but when I shut one of “his” feeders down, he goes to dominate another. We have never had such a greedy little guy and he reigns unchallenged. I hope he’s not learning this behavior from watching humans! 😉

Cheers to you from the harmonious Holler Hummers….(and the one little greedy guy)~

Depends where you are and what the local conditions are. We have about twenty plus birds this summer which is about half of normal because there is so much nectar and bugs for them in the environment now that the drought has ended.

Cindy, the photos are amazing and beautiful! We have been away for almost two months now, so I hope our hummers haven’t abandoned us completely! We do have cannas that I hope can sustain them with no feeders.

We have a Greedy George that dies the same thing! Wondering what he’s doing when we’re gone! 🌞

OMgosh, your photo’s are just A-mazing Cindy! You really could, nay should, be published in National Geographic or something. Maybe you have been? The little Tyrant wanting it all might be taking lessons from the nightly news (wink). How frustrating for all the other little visitors to your feeders. Good luck with that. I’ve been watching two Robins chasing a squirrel through my yard for about a week. They must have their nest near by. He usually gives them the zip-hop-turn-around move and ends up in the feeder anyways. Then I, the voyeuristic gardener, cleans up all the twigs and leaves their scuttle creates. I feel like the maid out there some days, ha!

Well, definitely a servant, if not a maid, laughing! It’s such a privilege isn’t it, because you get to be accepted by the critters and they are so much more fun to watch than movies or TV! Speaking of TV, I don’t watch it, but I do read the news and watch news clips on my laptop, right by the hummer feeders, so you comments forced me to acknowledge, I am the culprit in the horrible hummer’s behavior. Just like teenagers and too much TV, I created a monster!!!! Laughing! Hugs to you dear one~ ❤

He may be greedy, but he is really beautiful, especially when he’s snoozing! I have three or four hummer stations because the little critters are so incredibly territorial, although I’ve never seen this very interesting behaviour before. Thank you for your stunning photographs and always engaging commentary.

The photos are stunning! I have not come near getting a good picture of one. We noticed that the hummingbirds on our feeder spend more time fighting than they did drinking too. Fiesty little rascals, they.

That little greedy hummer needs to sleep and allow others to eat! I liked the ruffled feathers and the pretty way the feathers are illuminated! 🙂 Sweet hummers, usually chummers, may need to find a way to share. xo ❤🎆🌈